The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is mixing science with art for this year’s Lancashire Science Festival through a unique art exhibition.

The ‘When is a star a star?’ art installation in UCLan’s PR1 Gallery will feature a series of prints that explore the use of colour, shape, pattern and composition in representing the mathematics and science of star formation.

Lancaster artist and UCLan graduate Bonnie Craig has worked with Professor Derek Ward-Thompson from the School of Physical Sciences and Computing to show how artists and scientists can work together to bring new perspectives on each other’s work.

Being part of the Lancashire Science Festival means that we can bring this work to visitors who might not normally go to an art gallery, as well as giving them the chance to help create a huge artwork in the gallery itself.

Artist Bonnie commented: “Collaborating with an astrophysicist has been a new and really exciting way of working for me. It’s been a real privilege to learn about Derek’s research on star formation and to create artwork in response.

“Being part of the Lancashire Science Festival means that we can bring this work to visitors who might not normally go to an art gallery, as well as giving them the chance to help create a huge artwork in the gallery itself. I hope that everyone who visits will go away having learnt a bit about both art and science.”

Professor Derek Ward-Thompson said: “'It has been tremendously exciting to work with an artist who has been enthused by my science. Scientists see beauty in numbers and patterns, but Bonnie has taken this raw beauty of the Universe and turned it into something really special.

Artists and scientists normally approach matters from opposite directions. In this case that has created a wonderful collaboration that has helped each of us to see the Universe from the other's perspective.

I hope that everyone who sees this exhibition will enjoy it, and perhaps view science in a different way as a result.”

It has been tremendously exciting to work with an artist who has been enthused by my science. Scientists see beauty in numbers and patterns, but Bonnie has taken this raw beauty of the Universe and turned it into something really special.

The exhibition is open for preview on Tuesday 28 June 6.00pm – 8.00pm with refreshments and continues until Friday 8 July. As well as viewing the work, there is also an opportunity for visitors to join Bonnie in creating a large-scale artwork and to take home their own star souvenir at a drop-in family event as part of the Lancashire Science Festival on Saturday 2 July from 9.00am–5.00pm.

When is a star a star? has been organised as part of In Certain Places’ Testing Ground scheme which aims to help artists develop their practice through access to resources and research at UCLan. In Certain Places is a programme of artistic interventions and events, led by curators Elaine Speight and Professor Charles Quick with associate Rachel Bartholomew, in UCLan’s School of Art, Design and Fashion.